HOUSE OF LORDS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Die Jovis 1° Julii 1999

The House met at two oclock.

PRAYERS were read by the Lord Bishop of Gloucester.

Judicial Business

1. Commissioners of Customs and Excise (Appellants) v. British Telecommunications Plc (Respondents)The Report from the Appellate Committee was agreed to; it was ordered and adjudged that the Order of the Court of Appeal of 18th March 1998 be set aside and that the Order of Mr Justice Dyson of 5th February 1997 be restored; and that the respondents do pay to the appellants their costs in the Court of Appeal and before this House, the amount of such last-mentioned costs to be certified by the Clerk of the Parliaments if not agreed between the parties.

2. Phelps (A.P.) (Appellant) v. Mayor etc of the London Borough of Hillingdon (Respondents) The petition of the appellant praying that the time for lodging the statement and appendix and setting down the cause for hearing might be extended to 16th August next or to the third sitting day after the next ensuing meeting of the House (the agents for the respondents consenting thereto) was presented; and it was ordered as prayed.

3. Appeal CommitteeThe following Order was made pursuant to the 40th Report:

Union Carbide Corporation (a body corporate) (Respondents) v. B P Chemicals Limited (Petitioners) The order of reference made on 16th June last was discharged; it was ordered that leave to appeal be given, and that the petition of appeal be lodged by 16th July next.

The House was adjourned during pleasure.

The House was resumed.

Papers

4. Command PapersThe following papers were presented to the House by command of Her Majesty and ordered to lie on the Table:

1. Works of ArtMinute dated 30th June 1999 concerning the indemnification of works of art lent to the British Council for exhibitions to be held in a number of overseas locations during the second half of the financial year 1999-2000; ()

7. It was moved by the Baroness Jay of Paddington that, in the event that one or more statutory instruments relating to Northern Ireland are laid before the House this day, a motion or motions to approve them may, notwithstanding the practice of the House, be moved this day without notice; and that Standing Order 70 (Affirmative Instruments) be dispensed with to enable the motion or motions to be taken, notwithstanding that no report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments on the instruments has been laid before the House; after debate, the motion was agreed to.

8. House of Lords BillIt was ordered that the bill be printed as amended on report. (HL Bill 76)

9. Greater London Authority BillThe House again resolved itself into a Committee upon the bill; amendments were moved and (by leave of the Committee) withdrawn; amendments were agreed to; the House was resumed after clause 185 stood part.

10. Disability Rights Commission Bill [HL]The bill was returned from the Commons agreed to with amendments and with a privilege amendment; it was ordered that the Commons amendments be printed. (HL Bill 77)

The House was adjourned at nineteen minutes before one oclock

in the morning of Friday 2nd July to Monday next, half-past two oclock.